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FlyTunes adds video to mobile content network

FlyTunes Inc. has added new features to its mobile content network to improve the user experience.

The company added video and audio podcasts, a new user interface and a customizable channel guide. More than 200 new channels are available, with the video and audio channels covering a wide range of topics including news, entertainment, politics, health, comedy, business and technology.

"We are building a mobile content network that's different that anything done previously," said Roy Smith, vice president of marketing at FlyTunes, Lancaster, PA.

"The iPhone proves there is a demand for this functionality and providing content to people wherever they are is a big thing now," he said. "The radio is losing its luster a bit and digital delivery is what is going to change the music world."

FlyTunes offers users more than 350 channels of music, talk, video and podcast entertainment choices.

To ease users' ability to find the content they want, FlyTunes created a user interface that lets people find and select desired channels from two dialogue boxes.

Each selected channel displays detailed information, including an SMS text message link to let users send friends a direct link to listen in.

The new MyGuide feature lets users personalize their mobile media experience by enabling or disabling individual channels and entire genres from the selection menu.

"What we have done is built a backend technology that can stream stuff to people on the move, like in a car," Mr. Smith said.

"People on the move have a lot of problems with streaming music, songs can just turn off and the quality isn't so good," he said.

"FlyTunes lets users listen to their music and not worry about losing the feed."

The company is currently building its user base, but plans to sell ad placement in the next few months.

"The beauty of what we have done is that right in your hand we have a two-way communication tool," Mr. Smith said.